Gareth Bale Is the Key for Tottenham's Champions League Hopes

Bale has taken the football world by storm, but he still has work to do as Tottenham vie for a Champions League berth.Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

Tottenham's winger Gareth Bale is no stranger to individual awards. The Welsh youngster has taken the sport by storm, netting 19 goals this season alone. He has become the third player in history to take home both the PFA Player of the Year award and the Young Player of the Year award in the same season. Bale also picked up the FWA Footballer of the Year award from the Football Writers.

While Bale has become one of the most dominant and exciting individuals in the game, the famous phrase "There's no I in team" comes to mind. Bale may be one of the most talented players out there, but his team isn't exactly sitting pretty just yet, as it continues to vie for a spot in the Champions League.

Tottenham were sitting just one spot out of the coveted top four in the Premier League as they came into a crucial two-game stretch for their Champions League hopes. The first must-win affair came against Southampton, which Bale put an emphatic exclamation point on as he netted a late goal against his former club to secure the victory and keep Tottenham's chances at making the cut alive.

Bale is the key for Tottenham, not only if they want to make it into the Champions League, but if they want to make any noise at all once they get there. Bale has become one of the best players in all of football and has the ability to put his team on his back and make things happen, which he showed against Southampton. Bale's explosive offensive ability will continue to be a factor as Tottenham takes the field against Chelsea in a crucial matchup on Wednesday, May 8.

The highly decorated winger has been a major factor in Tottenham's success throughout the season, making big plays and finding the net in crucial times that, more often than not, resulted in his team coming away with crucial points.

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22 - Gareth Bale's goals have won 22 points this season in the Premier League, only Robin van Persie's have won more (26). Influence.

Bale's presence has certainly been felt in the Premier League this year, and while all of the individual awards and accolades may sound nice, a bid to play in the Champions League would be ever sweeter. If Tottenham want to make the cut, they'll need another big performance out of their young superstar.